Gun notifications

With my forcefield, I picked up the edge of the gun, then found the handholds. I hadn't even lifted it fully off the ground before I fired, aiming for the worst damage at the side of her head. I floated, and I was slow to take to the air with my burden.

I wasn't going to leave it behind, though.

I kept shooting, until I heard the beep, the double-beep, and the triple-beep that marked the weapon overheating. Capes erected barriers and weapons. Laser lassos, cranes, outcroppings of rock, forcefields. A few brutes got in the way.

Fuck you, I thought, staring her down. I spared a brief glance toward the people who were descending into the crack below. I'm not going to leave this weapon where you can smash it. If you want it, you're going to have to make me drop it, and I'm going to fight you every step of the way.

It wasn't enough to stop her. I braced for the impact.

The number of defenses going up between me and the Titan increased. More forcefields, more barriers, spikes. A few capes stepped in as she slowed down.

I kept firing, floating back while I did it.

"First thought, aww, baby cousin got a laser of her own!" I heard the voice.

Another laser joined mine, firing in the same general direction.

"Second thought: how the hell do you get a long ranged laser and put yourself in a position to collect more injuries?" Crystal called down to me. She grimaced as she made another crimson forcefield, which Skadi immediately shattered by lurching through it.

***

The cannon shuddered as I fired, and I heard two chimes. Not the beeps that marked heat level.

Battery. I was half out.

It was too much to stay on top of. Two highly mobile enemies who barely flinched when we attacked them. I had a responsibility to stall them, slow them down, and stop them from getting to the civilians.

The best of humankind throwing themselves into this hot mess to try to make a difference.

- Infared 19.1